Varadero

Varadero: The sands of paradise.

Dive in one of the places where corals abound, visit the dolphinarium and enjoy the beach quietly.

Recommended time spend

4 days

How to get there

The Via Blanca motorway is the fastest way to get there. You can rent a car or use private or group transport services. It also has an international airport and several marinas for yachts.

The water is crystal clear, warm, and quite shallow, so much so that you'll have to get swim a little to be able to dive. Some even joke that Varadero is perfect for those who can’t swim at all. The white sand, which is very fine, gives you the desire to build sandcastles, lie down for a while, or go for long walks along the shore.

The Peninsula of Hicacos is a unique structure within the national geography: very narrow and elongated, with about 22 kilometers of beaches on the north coast, and Cárdenas Bay to the south.

In the beginning of the 20th century the first hotel was built, and thanks to its fame, this has become a coveted tourist destination in Cuba. Varadero is so popular and everyone wants to see it, so you're likely to find it full of visitors for most of the year. No wonder it has more than 60 hotels, as well as private homes for rent, restaurants, and craft shops.

Not to miss

Don’t miss out on this experience: The International Diving Center organizes dives in 23 sites, where corals, fish and mollusks abound. Here you can discover that Cuba is colorful and diverse ... even under water.

Exclusivity and luxury are on full display on the golf courses and the Marina Varadero.

Look for dancing and exciting nightlife? You’ll be able to find it at the Casa de la Música, where the most famous salsa orchestras perform. Meanwhile, at the legendary nightclub La Rumba, the rhythm doesn’t stop until late.

Josone Park is a kind of oasis where you can escape to read, or have a long chat. The silence of the flower gardens and the lagoon with its romantic bridge invite you to take a walk and stay a while longer.

Nature lovers will enjoy the Varadero Dolphinarium, one of the six places in the country where marine animals are exhibited and cared for. The most daring tourists can swim with the dolphins, and of course, get a souvenir photo.

Getting there:

The most famous beach in Cuba is located north of the province of Matanzas, in the west of the country. It is just over 130 kilometers from Havana, the capital. The Vía Blanca is the fastest way to get there. Varadero has several marinas to tie up yachts and commercial boats. Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport receives flights from all over the world, and offers domestic flights to other parts of the Island. It’s a few minutes from downtown Varadero.